Subscription signaling system



@CL 9, i951 N W ARAM ETAL 2,570,188

4 SUBSCRIPTION SIGNALING SYSTEM Original Filed April 9, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 @CL 9, 1951 N W, ARAM ETAL 2,57088 SUBSCRIPTION SIGNALING SYSTEM Original Filed April 9, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Mode No.2

NATHAN VV. ARAM JESSE EBROWN INI/EN TOR.

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THEIR AGENT @et 9, i951 N. w. ARAM ETAL SUBSCRIPTION SIGNALING SYSTEM 4 Sheets-Sheet I3 Original Filed April 9, 1949 @et 9, E951 N. w. ARAM Erm. 2,570,188

SUBSCRIPTION SIGNALING SYSTEM Original Filed April 9, 1949 4 She`ets-S`heet 4 d lf I: T2# N i i E# C C #Ei E i i g i g I I wf ir I i i .S5 r I: Il l? El? l i i a C C E@ j? E ED O C) LLI LL NATHAN W, ARAM JESSE EBRowN INVEN TOR.

THEIR AGENT Patented oct. 9, 1951 iJNl'i'ED STATES asians PATENT @FFCE SUBSCRIPTION SEGNALNG SYSTEM @riginal application April 9, 1949, Serial No 86,486. Divided and this application January 25, i950, Serial No. 140,472

Claims.

This invention relates to coded signalling systems of the subscription type, and more particularly to such systems in which coded television signals are transmitted to subscriber receivers over a iirst signal channel, and key signals for decoding the coded television signals are transmitted to these receivers over a second signal channel.

This application is a division of copending application Serial No. 86,486 entitled Subscription Signalling System filed April 9, 1949, now Patent No. 2,563,448, granted August 7, 1951, in the name of Nathan Aram et al., and assigned to the present assignee.

Copending application Serial No. 742,374, Ellett et al., filed April 18, 1947, entitled Radio Wire Signalling System, Which has now issued as Patent 2,510,046, May 30, 1950, and copending application Serial No. 773,843, Roschke, led September i7, 1947, now Patent No. 2,547,598, granted April 3, 1951, entitled Image Transmission System, both assigned to the present assignee, disclose subscription type television systems in Which television signals are radiated to subscriber receivers in coded form, and key signals for decoding the coded television signals are transmitted to these receivers over a line circuit, some means being provided in the line circuit for recording the time of use of the key signals by respective subscriber receivers so that a suitable charge may be made therefor.

In the system disclosed in the above mentioned Roschle application, coding of the television signal is effected by transmitting this signal alternately in two distinct modes. In the rst, or normal, mode the video-frequency components of the television signal have a certain time relation with respect to the line synchronizing-signal components, and in the second mode the timing of the video-frequency components is changed so that these components have an altered time relation with respect to the line synchronizing-signal components. The system in this Roschke application is so arranged that changes from one mode to the other of the television signal take place at random times; and, in addition these changes are caused to occur during held-retrace intervals to avoid distortion of the image represented by the television signal. A key signal is transmitted over a line circuit to subscriber receivers to indicate the times of changes in the television signal from one mode to the other so that suitable `correcting circuits may be actuated at the receivers to compensate for such changes in mode and, hence, to decode (Cl. Tis- 5.1)

the television signal. Thus, the transmitted composite television signal has synchronizingsignal components having a iixed time relation in the television signal, and also has video-frequency components having a time relation with respect to the synchronizing-signal components that changes When the transmission of the television signal is altered from one mode to the other.

In copending application Serial No. 31,345, Reeves, led June 5, 1948, entitled Subscriber Transmission System, and assigned to the present assignee, it is pointed out that in the Roschke system the alterations of the time relation between the video-frequency components and the line synchronizing-signal components of the composite television signal cause the picture content or' each frame o1" the television signal to vary from mode to mode, and that these changes in picture content cause a slight flicker in the image reproduced at the receiver. The Reeves system provides a circuit at the subscription transmitter for producing jittering kblanking pulses having an amplitude approximately equal to the average amplitude of the video-frequency components of the television signal for blanking a portion of the video information at the edge of each frame. The time relation of these jittering pulses with respect to the synchronizing-signal components is altered concurrently With the time alteration of the videofrequency components as the transmission of the composite signal is changed from one mode to the other. As fully described in the Reeves application, these blanking pulses act to equalize the picture content of the frames in both modes of transmission, and effectively remove the dicker from the reproduced image. In accordance with the present invention the sound-signal components of the televised image are modulated on these jittering blanking pulses. Since these pulses have their timing altered as the television signal is changed from one mode of transmission to the other, the sound portion or the television signal is effectively coded, in addition to the picture components.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a coded television system of the subscription type in which a composite television signal is coded With such complexity that reception by unauthorized receivers is rendered extremely difficult, if not impossible.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a system of an improved type in which not only the picture components of the composite television signal are coded, but in which the sound-program of the televised scene is also transmitted in coded form as further modulation components of the composite television signal.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a subscriber receiver capable of decoding and reproducing the picture and sound components of the composite television signal coded in a predetermined manner.

The features of this invention which are believed to be new are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, together with further objects and advantages thereof may sbest'be understood by reference to the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in

which:

Figure l shows a television transmitting system of the subscription type incorporating the present invention,

Figure 2 shows various curves used in explaining the operation of the system of Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows a subscriber television receiver for decoding and reproducing the signal in the transmitter of Figure l, and

Figure 4 shows various timing diagrams useful in understanding the operation of the system of Figure 3.

Referring now more particularly to Figure l, the television transmitter there represented includes a picture-converting device Ill of the iconoscope, image orthicon or other suitable type. The device IIJ is coupled to a video amplifier I I which, in turn, is coupled through a video-blanking stage I2 to a synchronizing signal and pedestal mixer amplifier I3. The mixer I3 is coupled to a carrier-wave generator and modulator I4 through a usual background reinsertion device I5, and the carrier-wave generator and modulator I4 may be connected to a suitable antenna I6. A vertical and horizontal'synchronizing signal and pedestal-pulse generator I'I is connected to the mixer I3, and this stage is also connected to a usual vertical sweep generator I8. The stage I'I is also connected by way of leads I 9, a delay line and switch 2|), and leads 2| to a horizontal sweep generator 22. The vertical and l horizontal sweep generators are connected respectively to the vertical and horizontal sweep coils 23 and 24 of device lil. The generator I 'I is also coupled to a frequency divider 25 which is connected to a key-signal generator 26, and the generator 26 is connected to a line circuit 21 which extends to the subscriber receivers.

The delay line and switch 20 is actuated by a key-signal iilter and switch operator 28, this operator being coupled to stage I l and to the line circuit 21. The input terminals of a multivibrator 29 are connected through a delay line 30 to the leads 2| from the delay line and switch 2Q, the output terminals of the multivibrator being connected to the video-blanking stage l2. An audio-signal transducer 3| is connected to the input terminals of an audio amplier 32, the output terminals of which are connected to a pulsetime, or pulse-position, modulator 33. The output terminals of the pulse-time modulator 33 are connected to the synchronizing signal and pedestal mixer I3. A multivibrator 34 has its input terminals connected through a delay line 35 to the leads 2i from the delay line and switch 20, and has its output terminals connected to the modulator 33.

In the operation of this system, video-frequency signals representing a scanned subject are genfrom the frequency divider 25.

erated by the device I0, and these signals are amplified in the video amplifier II. The amplified video-frequency signals are passed through the blanking stage I2 to the mixer amplifier I3 wherein they are mixed with appropriate vertical and horizontal synchronizing signals and blanking pedestals. The output signal from the mixer amplier I3 is applied to the background reinsertion device I5, wherein this signal is properly adjusted as to background level, and is then applied to the stage I4 in which it is modulated on a suitable carrier wave and then radiated from the antenna Vertical scanning of the device IEI is controlled by the vertical-sweep generator I8 which supplies a sweep signal to its vertical-deflecting coils 23. The generator I8 is--synchronized by means of vertical-synchronizing pulses from the generator I1. Horizontal scanning of the device I0 is controlled by the horizontal-sweep generator 22 which supplies a sweep signal to the horizontal-deflecting coils 21|. The generator 22 is synchronized by means of horizontal-synchronizing pulses from generator I1 supplied thereto through the delay line and switch 20 which is under the control of the switch operator 28. The switch operator 23, in the presence of a time coincidence of a vertical-synchronizing pulse from generator I1 and a burst of key signal from thel key-signal generator 25, actuates the delay line and switch 20 from one position in which the horizontal-synchronizing pulses are passed thereby with no time delay, to a second position in which the horizontal-synchronizing pulses are time delayed by a certain predetermined amount. The key-signal generator 26 is triggered by frequency divided vertical synchronizing pulses This frequency divider may, when so desired, be of the random type disclosed in copending application Serial No. 32,457, in the name of Roschke, entitled Random Frequency Divider and assigned to the present assignee. Hence, the timing of the horizontal-sweep generator is altered from a normal state to a delayed state at spaced time intervals determined by the bursts of key signal from the generatoll 26. In this manner the scanning of the device Il! is delayed during spaced intervals and the television signal is, therefore, transmitted in two modes, one in which the Video-frequency components have a certain time relation with the horizontal synchronizing-signal components and a second in which the video-frequency components have a different time relation with respect to the synchronizing-signal components. Due to the requirement of time coincidence of a vertical-synchronizing pulse and a key signal burst to actuate the operator 28, changes in .the transmission of the television signal from one mode to the other occur only during held-retrace intervals, and hence distortion in the image represented by this signal is avoided. Key signal bursts from the key signal generator 2S, indicating the times of such changes of mode of transmission of the television signal, are transmitted to subscriber receivers over the line circuit 2'! that extends thereto. The system as thus far described is fully disclosed in the Roschke application Serial No. 773,848, wherefore a further description thereof, or a detailed description of the various component parts is believed to be unnecessary.

The slight flicker that may arise in the reproduced image when a subscriber receiver utilizes the coded television signal transmitted by a subscription transmitter of the type described is eliminated by means of the video-blanking stage I2. As disclosed in the Reeves application Serial No. 31,345, this blanking stage may blank` the video signals passing therethrough at any desired intervals, and produce in their stead a series of blanking pulses. The blanking eiect produced by the stage I2 is timed by the multivibrator 29 which, in turn, is triggered by horizontal-synchronizing pulses from the delay line and switch 2li, these pulses being time delayed in the delay line 30. In this manner the blanking pulses developed in the stage I2 are caused to occur at appropriate intervals and their timing is altered each time the transmission of the television signal changes from one mode to the other.

The multivibrator 34 produces pulses that are passed through the pulse-time modulator 33 to the mixer stage I3. This multivibrator is triggered by horizontal-synchronizing pulses from the delay line and switch 2G applied thereto through the delay line 35. The time delay exhibited by the delay line 35 is made such that the multivibrator Se is triggered at the correct intervals to produce pulses at the mixer stage 3 through the pulse-time modulator 33 at the proper time intervals to coincide with the blanking pulses from the stage I 2. This time coincidence of the pulses from the modulator 33 and from the blanking stage I2 is not altered with changes in the mode of transmission of the television signal, since both the modulator and the blanking stage I2 are controlled by horizontalsynchronizing pulses from the delay line and Switch 2U.

Audio signals from the transducer 3| are amplined in the ampliiier 32 and are impressed on the pulse-time modulator 33 wherein they alter the timing of the pulses passing therethrough in accordance with the audio intelligence. Therefore, the pulses impressed by the pulse-time modulator on the mixer I3 have their timing altered in accordance with the audio intelligence and further have their timing altered as the transmission of the television signal changes from mode to mode. Consequently, the television signal passed by the mixer stage I3 to the carrierwave generator and modulator stage I4 is coded with great complexity, since it contains picture components that are in coded form and since it further contains audio, or sound, components that are also in coded form.

Reference is now made to Figure 2 for a more detailed description of the operation of the transmitter of Figure 1. The wave form of curve 2A represents the horizontal-synchronizing pulses after they have passed through the delay line and switch 2G, the pulses being designated 4B, SI l2 and Q3. These pulses have a certain timing in mode No. l wherein the delay line and switch 29 is assumed to introduce a delay in the translation of these pulses and they have a changed timing during mode No. 2 wherein the delay line and switch passes the pulses with no delay. As previously stated, the change from mode No. 2 occurs during a eldor vertical-retrace blanking interval, as indicated in Figure 2. It is pointed out that the generator I'I of Figure l continues to generate horizontal-synchronizing pulses during the vertical-blanking intervals and supplies these pulses to the delay line and switch 20 in a continuous manner.

The pulses represented in curve 2A are impressed on the multivibrator 29 through the delay line 30, the pulses from thev delay line 30 being shown in the curve 2B as the pulses 44, 45, 46 and lll. The pulse 44 corresponds to the horizontal-synchronizing pulse, not shown, preceding the pulse 40 in curve 2A, the pulse 45 corresponds to the pulse 4I, the pulse 4S corresponds to a horizontal-synchronizing pulse, not shown, occurring in the vertical-retrace interval, and the pulse 4l' corresponds to the pulse l2 in curve 2A. The pulses in curve 2B trigger the multivibrator 29 and the resulting output pulses from the multivibrator are shown in curve 2C. As previously stated, this triggering of the multivibrator 28 continues during the vertical-blanking intervals due to the pulses supplied thereto from the delay line and switch 2-6 and the delay line 3U.

The pulses in curve 2A are also passed through the delay line 35 to the multivibrator SilV and the output pulses from this multivibrator are shown in curve 2D, the triggering of the multivibrator 3d similarly continuing during the vertical-blanking intervals. The pulses from the multivibrator 3d are supplied to the pulse-time modulator 33 wherein they are modulated in accordance with audio intelligence from the audio amplifier 32, and the output pulses from the modulator 33 are shown in curve 2E, these pulses being pulse-time modulated with respect to the leading edge of the pulses in the curve 2D, regardless of the position of these latter pulses.

The curve 2F represents the horizontal-synchronizing signal as it appears in the mixer amplier I3. This signal consists of horizontal-synchronizing pulses IS generated by the generator Il', these pulses being superimposed on blanking pedestals also generated by the generator I1. The pulses from the multivibrator 29, as shown in curve 2C, operate the video signals passing therethrough at certain intervals and provide jittering blanking pulses during these intervals. These blanking pulses are shown in curve 2F at 5! and, as shown, they have their timing altered relative to the pedestals i9 and the horizontalsynchronizing pulses .48 whenever the transmission of the television signal changes from mode No. 1 to mode No. 2. The time-modulated pulses in curve 2E are supplied to the mixer ampli'er I3 and beingr of opposite polarity appear as slots in the blanking pulses 5e, as shown in curve 2F. The modulated pulses have their timing relative to the pulses 583 altered in accordance with the audio signals represented thereby, and furthermore these pulses are coded since their timing (relative to pulses d3) is additionally altered', concurrently with the blanlring pulses 58 as the transmission changes from mode to mode, During vertical-blanking intervals, the jittering pulses 5u do not appear the transmitted television signal, and the time-modulated pulses of curve 2E appear, during these intervals, as slots in the vertical blanking signal. The vertical-synchronizing pulses are positioned' on verticalblanking signals in conventional manner so that they do not interfere with the time-modulated pulses.

A subscriber receiver for receiving and decoding the television signal transmitted by the transmitter of Figure 1 is shown in Figure 3. This receiver comprises a unit 6D including a radio-frequency amplifier, a rst detector, an intermediate frequency amplier and a second detector connected in cascade as in conventional television receivers. The input terminals of this unit 60 may be connected to a suitable antenna 6I; and the output terminals thereof are connected to av video amplier 62. Thevideo amplifier 62' is V1 is received on the antenna 6I.

received signal. nals are impressed on the horizontal-sweep gen- `erator 68 through the delay line and switch 61, and synchronize this generator, and hence the horizontal scanning of the device 64, to the horilzontal-synchronizing frequency of the received coupled through a usual background-reinsertion device 63 to a receiver image tube 64 or any other type of reproducing device. The video amplifier 62 is also connected to a synchronizing-signal separator 65, this circuit being connected directly to a vertical-sweep generator 66, and through a delay line 'and switch 61 t a horizontal-sweep generator 68. The output terminals `of .the sweep generator 66 and 68 are connected,

respectively, to the vertical-deflecting coils 69 and horizontal-deflecting coils of the reproducing device 64. The delay line and switch 61 is operated by a key-signal filter and switch operator 1l connected thereto by means of leads 12, this operator being actuated by the coincidence of a vertical-synchronizing pulse from the vertical sweep generator 66 on leads 13 and a burst of key signal on the line circuit 21 extending to the receiver from the transmitter of Figure 1. The video amplier 62 is also connected through a gate circuit 14 and through a delay line and switch 1'5 to a pulse-time demodulator 16, the gate circuit being actuated by a multivibrator 11 connected to the horizontal-sweep generator 68 through a delay line 18. The output terminals of the pulse-time demodulator 16 are connected to an audio amplifier 19, which in turn is connected to a sound. reproducing device 80. The horizontal-sweep generator 68 is also connected to a blanking generator 8|, which may be similar to that disclosed in copending application Serial No. 74,821, led February 5, 1949, entitled Subscription Type Signal Translating Apparatus by Richard O. Gray, and assigned to the present assignee. The output terminals of the blanking generator 11 are connected between ground and .one of the input electrodes of the device 64.

-In the operation of this receiver, the composite television signal from the transmitter of Figure This signal is amplied and detected in the receiver 60 and the detected signal is then amplified in the video amplifier 62. The amplified video signal from the amplifier 62, properly adjusted as to background level in the device 63, is used to control the intensity of the cathode-ray beam in the device 64, in the usual manner. The synchronizing-signal components of the received television signal are removed therefrom by the separator circuit 65, .the vertical synchronizing-signals being impressed by this circuit directly on the verticalsweep generator 66 to synchronize this generator,

and hence the vertical scanning of the device 64, to the vertical-synchronizing frequency of the Horizontal-synchronizing sigasignal. As previously pointed out, the video-fre- .quency components of .the transmitted television signal are relayed relative to the synchronzingsignal components thereof at spaced time interlvals as the signal changes from the first to the Achange in mode in the received signal.

tiation of the key-signal burst. This burst is received at the receiver over the line circuit and may be delayed slightly due to an inherent time delay in this circuit. However, there is no change in mode of transmission of the signal until the next vertical synchronizing pulse following the initiation of the burst is generated at the transmitter, and this burst is, therefore, received at thereceiver before this change in mode at the transmitter is initiated. The burst of key signal received over line 21 is impressed on the switch operator 1 I, and the next vertical-synchronizing pulse on leads 13, which corresponds to the above mentioned next succeeding vertical synchronizing pulse generated at the transmitter, causes the operator 1| to actuate the delay line and switch 61. Therefore, this actuation occurs simultaneously with the change in mode of the received signal, and also during a vertical retrace interval to avoid distortion in the reproduced image. Therefore, at each of the above mentioned changes in mode when the video-frequency components of the television signal are delayed with respect to the horizontal synchronizing-signal components at the transmitter, the delay line and swi'tch 61 causes the horizontal scanning of the image tube 64 to b'e simultaneously delayed and, hence, enables the device to reproduce correctly the transmitted image. The operation of the receiver thus far described is fully discussed in the aforementioned Roschke application, together with a detailed description of the various components thereof.

To avoid edge flicker in the reproduced image, the blanking generator 8l is provided, this blanking generator being actuated by horizontal-synchronizing pulses from the horizontal sweep generator 68 and producing blanking pulses at its output. Whenever the timing of the horizontal-sweep generator 68 is altered due to the actuation of the delay line and switch 61, the timing of the blanking pulses from the generator 8l is concurrently altered. As fully described in the previously mentioned Gray application, the blanking pulses from the generator 8| may be adjusted to blank the device 64 during any desired portions of the normal trace intervals of this device, these portions varying as the received subscription television signal changes from mode to mode. Generator 8| may, therefore, be adjusted to blank portions of the normal trace intervals of the device 6d and edge flicker in the reproduced image may be eliminated thereby.

The time-modulated pulses that were multiplexed on the received subscription television signal at the transmitter are removed therefrom in the following manner: The detected and amplified television signal from the video amplifier 62 is passed through the gate circuit 1d to the delay line and switch 15. The gate circuit 14 is operated by the multivibrator 11 which, in turn, is operated by horizontal-synchronizing pulses from the horizontal sweep generator 68 delayed in the delay line 18. The multivibrator 11 and the delay vline 18 are so constructed that the gate circuit is'opened for intervals corresponding to the occurrence of the time-modulated pulses in the received television signal. Since the multivibrator 11 is actuated by horizontal pulses from the horizontal-sweep generator 68, the timing of this multivibrator is altered each time there is a This is due to the fact that the timing of the horizontalsweep generator changes simultaneously with such change in mode. the mode of transmission of the television signal, the gate circuit is. correctly timed to. select onlyl such portions of this signalY that contain the timemodulated pulses.

During the vertical-blanking intervals, as, previ-- ously pointed out, the time modulated pulses. appear on the vertical blanking pulses. The horizontal-sweep generator 68 continues to oscillate during these intervals and the gate circuit T4 continues to be opened at the proper times to select only the portion of the. receivedY signal which contains the time-modulated pulses. As a result, there appears at the output of the gate circuit 'le a periodic pulse wave which contains two time modulations, a rst that represents the audio-signal components of the received television signal, and a second that represents the change in timing of the television signal from the rst to the second mode of transmission. TheY second modulation is compensated by means of the delay line and switch l5, this delay line and switch being operated by the operator 'H to delay the pulses passing therethrough when the received television signal is in one mode and to pass the pulses directly when the received television signal is in the second mode. The construction of the delay line and switch l5 is made such that the pulses appearing at its output have only the time modulation representing the audio intelligence. The pulses from the delay line and switch are demodulated in the: pulse-time demodulator lt, this demodulator being unresponsive to amplitude changes of these pulses so that the time-modulated pulses conveyed by the jittering blanlring pulses and by the vertical blanking pulses receive identical treatment. The resulting audio signals from the demodulator 14 are amplified in the audio amplier 19 and are reproduced in the device 80,..

Reference is now made to Figure 4I for a more detailed description of the operation of the receiver of Figure 3. The curve. 4A shows the horizontal-synchronizing signal. transmitted by the transmitter of Figure 1 and received by the receiver of Figure Ll. As in curve 2F, this signal includes horisen-tal-synchronizing pulses 48, hori-r zontal-blanking pedestals lil and the littering blanki-ng pulses 5.3, these latter pulses changing in time with respect to the pedestals and synchro-v nizing pulses as the transmission of the television signal changes from mode No. 1 toV mode NO. 2. As shown, the time-modulated pulses representing the audio-signal component of the television signal are impressed on the jittering blanking pulses Ell and these time-modulated pulses also move concurrently wtih these blanking pulses as the mode of transmission of the television signal changes. As previously stated, during the vertical-blanking intervals the time-modulated pulses are impressed on the vertical-blanking pedestals, not shown. The horizontal-synchronizing pulses i8 are removed from the signal shown in curve 5A by the separator circuit 65, and are then supplied to the horizontal-sweep generator 58 through the delay line and switch 61. The pulses impressed on the delay line 'i8 from the horizontal sweep generator lill' are shown in curve 6B, and these pulses are delayed therein and appear at the output thereof with the timing indicated in curve lC. The pulses in curve 4B have a certain delayed time relationship with respect to the horizontal-synchronizing pulses 48 oi curve LlA when the transmission of the television signal is in mode No. 1 since the delay line Therefore,- regardless of."

10 and switch 61 is in a condition to delay' these pulses; In mode No. 2,` the. pulses of curve 4B' are in phase. with the corresponding horizontalsynchronizing pulses 48 of curve 4A since the delay line and switch 61 is in acondition to pass these latter pulses with no delay.

The pulses. of curve 4C are impressed on the multivibrator 'H and the pulse output of the multivibrator is shown in. curve 4D. The delay line T8' and the multivibrator 'i1 are so constructed that the gate circuit 'M is opened at the correct intervalsv to. pass the time-modulated pulses froml the received signal to the delay line and switch 1-5. The timing of the operation of the gate circuit. 'i4 is altered each time the mode of the received television signal changes so that the timemodulated pulses. are passed thereby regardless of the mode of the. television signal. The timemodulated pulses impressed on the delay line and switch 'l5 are. shown in curvev 2E and these pulses additionally have their timing altered each time thev mode of the received signal changes.. The delay line and switch 'l5 is actuated simultaneously with the delay line and switch 6l and imparts to the time-modulated pulses passing therethrough a compensating time delay duringY the mode No. 2 intervals so that the pulses supplied to the pulse-time demodulator 'l are time modulated solely with the audio intelligence and unaffected by any change in mode in the received television signal. These time-modulated pulses which are supplied to the demodulator 'I6 are shown in curve 4F.

This invention provides, therefore, a subscriber television system in which a television signal is coded with great complexity by changing atv spaced time intervals the time relation between the video-frequency components and the synchronizing-signal components of the composite television signal, and in which the television signal is further coded by impressing its audio-signal components on a banking pulse thereof which also has its time relation relative to the synchronizing-signal components altered during the spaced time intervals.

While a certain embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, modications may be made thereof. It is intended in the appended claims to cover all such modications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

We claim:

l. A subscription type of television transmitter comprising: a picture-converting unit for developing during recurring trace intervals a video signal representing image information to be transmitted; a scanning system associated with said converting unit; a synchronizing-signal generating unit coupled to said scanning system for developing a synchronizing signal to control the timing of said trace intervals; an audio-signal transducer for developing an audio signal representing sound information to be transmitted; a periodic-signal source; a modulator coupled to said transducer and to said source for modulating the periodic signal from said source in accordance with said audio signal; a mixer amplifier coupled to said converting unit, to said synchronizing-signal generating unit and to said modulator for producing a composite television signal l including video components, synchronizing components and sound components; a coding circuit coupled to at least one of said units and to said periodic-signal source for modifying the time relation between the modulated periodic signal and one of the aforesaid synchronizing and video signals; and a key-signal generator coupled to said coding circuit for developing avkey signal to actuate said coding circuit in accordance with a coding schedule.

2. A subscription type of television transmitter comprising: a picture-converting device for developing during recurring trace intervals a video signal representing image information to be transmitted; a scanning system associated with said converting device; a synchronizing-signal generator coupled to said scanning system for developing a synchronizing signal to control the timing of said trace intervals; an audio-signal transducer for developing an audio signal representing sound information to be transmitted; a periodic-signal source; a modulator coupled to Said transducer and to said source for modulating the periodic signal from said source in accordance with said audio signal; a mixer amplifier coupled to said converting device, to said synchronizingsignal generator and t said modulator for producing a composite television signal including video components, synchronizing components and sound components; a ceding circuit coupled to said scanning system and t0 said periodic-signal source for modifying the time relation between said video signal and said synchronizing signal and the time relation 1oetween said modulated periodic signal and said synchronizing signal; and a key-signal generator coupled to said coding circuit for developing a key signal to actuate said coding circuit in accordance with a coding schedule.

3. A subscription type of television transmitter comprising: a picture-converting device for developing during recurring trace intervals a video signal representing image information to be transmitted; a scanning system associated with said converting device; a synchronizing-signal generator coupled to said scanning system for developing a synchronizing signal to control the timing of said trace intervals; an audio-signal transducer for developing an audio signal representing sound information to be transmitted; a pulse-signal source; a modulator coupled to said transducer and to said source for modulating the pulse signal from said source in accordance with said audio signal; a mixer amplifier coupled to said converting device, to said synchronizingsignal generator and to said modulator for producing a` composite television signal including Video components, synchronizing components and sound components; a coding circuit coupled to said scanning system and to said pulse-signal source for modifying the time relation between said video signal and said synchronizing signal and the time relation between said modulated pulse signal and said synchronizing signal; and a key-signal generator coupled to said coding circuit for developing a key signal to actuate said coding circuit in accordance with a coding schedule.

4. A subscription type of television transmitter comprising: a picture-converting device for developing during recurring trace intervals a video signal representing image information to be transmitted; a scanning system associated with said converting device; a synchronizing-signal generator coupled to said scanning system for developing a synchronizing signal to control the timing of said trace intervals; an audio-signal transducer for developing an audio signal representing sound information to be transmitted; a pulsesignal source; a pulse-time modulator coupled to said transducer and to said source for time-modulating the pulse signal from said source in accordance with said audio signal; a, mixer amplifier coupled to said converting device, to said synchronizing-signal generator and to said modulator for producing a composite television signal including video components, synchronizing components and sound components; a coding circuit coupled to said scanning system and to said pulse-signal source for modifying the time relation between said video signal and said synchronizing signal and the time relation between said modulated pulse signal and said synchronizing signal; and a key-signal generator coupled to said coding circuit for developing a key signal to actuate said coding circuit in accordance with a coding schedule.

5. A subscription type of television transmitter comprising: a picture-converting device for developing during recurring trace intervals a Video signal representing image information to be transmitted; a scanning system associated with said converting device; a synchronizing-signal generator coupled to said scanning system for developing a synchronizing signal to control the timing of said trace intervals; an audio-signal transducer for developing an audio signal representing sound information to be transmitted; a pulse-signal source; a pulse-time modulator coupled to said transducer and to said source for time-modulating the pulse signal from said source in accordance with said audio signal; a blanking network coupled to said converting device for introducing blanking pulses into said video signal recurring in time coincidence with the time-modulated pulse signal; a mixer amplifier coupled to said blanking network, to said synchronizingsignal generator and to said modulator for producing a composite television signal including video components, synchronizing components, and blanking components with superposed sound components, a coding circuit coupled to said scanning system, to said blanking network, and to said pulse-signal source for varying the time relation between said time-modulated pulse signal, said video signal and said blanking pulses with respect to said synchronizing signal; and a keysignal generator coupled to said coding circuit for developing a key signal to actuate said coding circuit at spaced operating intervals.

NATHAN W. ARAM. JESSE E. BROWN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the lile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,391,776 Fredendall Dec. 25, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 564,511 Great Britain Oct. 2, 1944 621,479 Great Britain Apr. 11, 1949 

